In the U.K. you are knighted for your good deeds, but in Thailand your entire surname is changed by the king. The Thai royal office bestows one-of-a-kind family names on select Thais who have performed exemplary public service or made extraordinary contributions to society. Anybody can apply, but few succeed in getting a moniker. King Bhumiphol Adulyadej, who has reigned for 59 years (the longest-reigning king in the world), has personally bestowed very few surnames.

Singha beer family Bhirombhakdi got its name from King Rama VII. Liquor tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi acquired his new surname (which means "goodness, prosperity, loyalty") in 1987 for his charitable activities. Charoen's new name took just a bit longer to say than his old family name, Srisomboorananont. His ethnic Chinese family name was easier: Su.

But Thais don't waste their breath. For a quicker moniker they use the prefix "khun" as a title for either men or women, followed by the first name.

Stock quotes are delayed at least 15 minutes for Nasdaq, at least 20 minutes for NYSE/AMEX.
U.S. indexes are delayed at least 15 minutes with the exception of Nasdaq, Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 which are 2 minutes delayed.